A special enrollment period will begin March 15th and end on April 30th to help consumers avoid tax penalties for not obtaining health insurance during the OEP.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a special enrollment period for individuals and families who did not have health coverage in 2014 and are subject to the fee or “shared responsibility payment” when they file their 2014 taxes in states which use the Federally Facilitated Marketplace.

To qualify for the special enrollment period:

- Your clients will need to self-attest that they had to pay a penalty for not having coverage in 2014

Our goal is to provide all our customers with great customer care, and improve it or take it one step further. (thats the +PLUS)

Our Care Improvement Plus program is designed to assist those individuals and family members of those on Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.

We also provide special short term health insurance for those married couples, who have one person going on Medicare and the other needing Short Term Health insurance while they are waiting to enroll in medicare .

Retirement is a very exciting time of life, but is does come with some confusion. The professionals at 1-800-MEDIGAP are trained to help you answer all the questions, including:

Senior Health Insurance

Medicare Supplements

Medigap

Burial Insurance

Short Term Care

Nursing Home insurance

Supplements to Medicare and more all wrapped up in one easy package that we call

CARE IMPROVEMENT PLUS

Our customers love our agents, check out what they have to say on our community portal located at http://1800medigap.com , there you will find articles by our agents, 5 STAR rankings and more.

Our toll free hot line makes it easy to remember us, our TEAM makes you want to remember us for all your medicare supplement needs.

About Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B

While information about Medicare and Medicare supplementsare found on every corner on the internet, it is not at all uncommon to run into seniors who still face confusion about the different Medicare and Medigap policiesavailable. When you turn 65, you will be eligible for Medicare and in some cases, those with various long term illnesses and disabilities qualify even before 65. Nevertheless, choosing the right plan to suit your needs is imperative. Here’s a look into Medicare parts A and B

Medicare Part A

Part A covers skilled nursing facilities, inpatient hospital stays, home health care and hospice care. Over 65 permanent residents of the US are able to sign up for free Medicare part A. You are eligible for the program without needing to pay premiums if you are eligible for Railroad benefits or social security but have not yet filed for them and if you are obtaining retirement benefits from the Railroad Retirement board or Social Security. You will also be eligible for free Medicare if you or your spouse has government employment that is covered by Medicare. Of course, despite not having a premium to pay, you will have to pay annual deductibles and certain co-payments.

Medicare Part B

Part B is responsible for outpatient hospital care, doctors’ bills, physical therapy at home, chiropractic care, medical equipment, ambulance coverage as well as X rays and lab tests. Part B also provides limited prescription drug coverage and has a monthly premium and a yearly deductible. The monthly premium depends on the time of your enrollment and your cost of living. However, this amount will be deducted from your Railroad retirement, Civil Service retirement or Social Security. If you don’t have any of these payments, you will have to settle the amount every three months. If you did not sign up for Part B when you first become eligible, you may be able to do so in the General Enrollment Period. Running up to 45 days each year, this period will allow you to sign up for Part B at your local Social Security office.

What Affects Medigap Prices?

Medigap pricesdepend on several factors: the specific plan that you have chosen, the time in which you apply for the policy and how your insurance company sets the premium prices all come into account when deciding on the final price of the policy. If you are nearing 65 and planning your healthcare options, being properly prepared by finding out more about Medigap prices is highly recommended.

Medigap policies are standardized by the government. However, the standardization is only for the coverage of the policy and Medigap insurance providers can price their policies differently. This means that the same level of coverage and coverage options will be offered by different insurance companies at different prices.

One of the most prominent factors that contribute to the price of a Medigap policy is the way that the insurance company sets the price. Since each insurer uses their own methods, the prices come out differently even if the same components are billed. Be sure to pay special attention to the method of pricing to make sure that you are getting a good deal.

Insurers use three ways to set Medigap prices:

Community rated plans

This means that regardless of the age of enrollment, the premiums are the same for every client. With community rated plans, the premium will be the same for clients regardless of their age when they sign up. There is no risk of increasing premiums with age but they may go up due to inflation.

Issue age rated plans

Issue age rated or entry age rated plans are priced, based on the age of the appliance when they first enroll. This means that a person who is 65 will pay less than a person who is older. Just like the community rated plans, the rates are subject to change due to inflation. However, the costs will not change as the beneficiary grows older.

Attained age rated plans

This premium calculation method is based on your age when you sign up. The premium will increase as the beneficiary grows older. As with other calculation methods, inflation will also come into account when the policy premium increases each year.

In addition, if you delay your enrollment in Medicare part B due to existing health coverage, your open enrollment period will be delayed and won’t begin until you are 65 and have signed up for Part B. Some plans may be offered at discounted rates for seniors who fit specific requirements. For instance, being a married couple, being a non-smoker, buying multiple policies and setting up automatic payments may qualify you for a discounted Medigap price.

The Differences between Medicare and Medicaid

As you grow older, you are most likely to need proper health care insurance to make sure that financial problems don’t get in the way of good health. The proper over 65 medical insurance is essential to make sure that you are well covered for any medical needs you may have in the future. If you have heard of Medicare, then you may have heard of Medcaid as well. So what exactly is the difference?

Medicaid is a financial assistance program that is designed for those with a low income. Medicaid is actually based on necessity as well as social welfare. A person’s income will determine whether they are eligible for Medicaid or not. As for Medicare, it is a government controlled insurance program that is targeted at people over 65 years of age. Anyone over the age of 65 is covered by Medicare but it must be noted that the policy is not offered free of charge. Beneficiaries have to pay monthly premiums as well as a part of their costs as deductibles.

When it comes to Medicaid, the medical bills are paid by the local, state and federal tax funds. The policy aids anyone of low income regardless of their age. In some cases, the patients don’t pay anything as all medical costs are covered by the policy. However, in some cases a co-pay may be needed. In order to find out more information on the co-pay and whether it applies to someone, it is necessary to contact the state Medicaid office. Medicaid is run in joint by the federal government and the states. The rules and requirements of eligibility may be subject to change depending on different states.

Medicare comes in different parts: Medicare part A covers hospital bills while Part B provides medical insurance coverage. As for part C, it is a health maintenance organization while part D provides prescription drug coverage. In some options, Medicare recipients are required to pay additional premium charges.

As for Medicaid, it covers a wider range of services in comparison to Medicare. Medicaid pays for those with disabilities, pregnant women, the parents of eligible children and even children. While low-income is the main qualifying factor, potential beneficiaries are required to belong to specific coverage groups. In some states, Medicaid is offered to those who are unable to afford insurance.

It is possible for some people to have both types of policies. Medicaid covers extended long-term care and various other services that are not covered by Medicare. Just like a Medigap policy, Medicaid may even pay certain Medicare out-of-pocket expenses.

How to Avoid Illegal Medicare Supplement Practices

Medicare supplement services providers come in all shapes and sizes. While you may not be able to determine just how good or bad a company is at first glance, you can definitely watch out for signs of illegal activity to protect yourself.

For starters, if you are a Medicare Advantagebeneficiary, you are not able to purchase a Medigap policy. If you are approached by a sales representative or insurance agent who tries to convince you to purchase a Medigap while you are already a Medicare Advantage client, this is a clear sign that the company is not a very reputable one. If you approach an insurance provider and as for information about Medigap coverage, the company should always provide accurate information to help you make your choice. If you are unable to get a definite date for the commencement of the coverage from a specific insurance company, it is advisable to find a different company. The majority of Medigap insurance providers offer policies that will begin on the first day of the following month or immediately after signing up.

There are rules that state a Medigap insurance company cannot claim that they are specifically endorsed by the government. If your insurance company claims that their plan is ‘specially approved by Medicare’ then that is another red flag to watch out for. In reality, making statement such as this is considered a breach of policy and ought to be reported to the relevant authorities.

If you have purchased a Medigap policy and the circumstances in which you bought it are less than legitimate, it is highly advised that you report your concerns to the relevant authorities. In all states, there is a specific department for handling insurance and malpractice claims related to insurance. In most states it is referred to as the Bureau of Insurance or the Department of Insurance. If you have come across a Medigap insurance provider who is dealing the policies in an illegitimate manner, be sure to contact them and to report the issue. If you have lost any money by signing up for Medigap with an illegitimate company, the bureau will assist you with what needs to be done next.

How to Obtain Quotes for Medicare Supplement Policies

If you are approaching the age of 65 and are looking at health care insurance options, you will need to take the time and effort to choose the right Medicare supplement policies. Whether you are suffering from a long standing health condition or in need of regular health care, finding a Medicare supplement policy to suit your needs is an absolute necessity. A Medigap policywill pay for the extra medical care costs that may not be covered by Medicare. An important part of the Medigap policy selection process is obtaining and comparing quotes.

Although Medicare supplement policies are standardized by the United States government, the premiums may be different between each private insurance company. It is highly recommended that you start your search a bit early and analyze the costs of each plan before signing up for a policy.

It is necessary to do some research on the available Medigap plans before you request for quotes. You may be aware that different Medigappolicies cover different areas of your health care costs. You will need to determine your current health care situation and make an assessment of how things will turn out after the age of 65. It is very important to pay special attention to any pre-existing medical conditions or degenerative diseases as well. Despite your requirements, you will also need to make sure that the supplement plans that work for your specific case are actually available in your location. There are 10 Medigap plans with a letter of the alphabet designated to each option and the best way to find out the right option for you is to do some research or to discuss the matter with a qualified insurance provider.

After you have determined the plan that works for you, you can then begin looking at quotes. There are many different ways to obtain quotes online as well as offline. Something you should be extra careful is to only ask for quotes from reputed insurance companies. This is especially important when dealing with online quotes as some websites may actually be ‘lead companies’ that are only after your contact details that might cause you a great deal of trouble from cold calling insurance agents and spam.

While your primary concern is undoubtedly the premium amount, there are a few other factors that are just as important. As mentioned before, a reputed company is a must. Once you have narrowed down your list, look for their history of claims, customer service and then ask for any special offers and discounts (i.e. discounts for couples, etc.). You can obtain several quotes and compare them to choose the perfect one.

What You Should Know About Medicare SELECT Plans

Medicare SELECT is a Medicare supplemental plan that offers a lower premium (about 8% -36%) in comparison to other programs. This particular Medigap policy works like an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) where beneficiaries will have to choose health care providers who belong to a network.

Unless you face an emergency where urgent care is needed, you will have to use an in-network health care provider if you are to obtain Medicare SELECT. While Original Medicare will pay their approved charges, they will only do so if you choose a provider who accepts payments from Medicare.

When it comes to choosing medical care providers under Medicare SELECT, policyholders will have to be careful as to pick professionals who are willing and permitted to admit a patient to a network facility. If not, you will have to pick health care professionals who are willing to refer patients to network physicians or facilities. The majority of Medicare SELECT policies will cover policyholders while they travel within the United States (travelling is referred to leaving the service area for purposes that don’t include receiving services from facilities beyond the network). While selecting exclusively network facilities and health care professionals may be an inconvenience, Medicare SELECT makes up for it by offering lower premiums.

Medicare SELECT policies are not available in all states. If you are 65 years old or over 65, a Medicare SELECT beneficiary and are planning to move out of the plan’s network or service area, you will have to purchase a new Medigap plan to cover you in your new location. You will not face any restrictions when choosing a different Medigap policyas you will be offered guaranteed issue rights. However, your new plan will depend on your location and what’s available there. In some states, the guaranteed issue rights are offered to people under 65.

Once your Medicare SELECT policy ends, you will be given 63 calendar days with guaranteed issue rights to choose a different Medigap policy. If you wish to apply for a policy before your SELECT coverage ends, you can apply as early as 60 calendar days before expiration. It is very important to weigh your pros and cons with this particular type of policy. While you are offered a lower premium, you will have to adhere to strict limitations and it is best to make sure that you are not inconvenienced by them before you make a commitment.

How Medicare Advantage Plans Work

Medicare Advantage plans, also referred to as “Part C” and “MA Plans” are a health insurance program offered by the United States. MedicareAdvantage plans can be obtained through private companies that are approved by Medicare. If you have joined this insurance program, you will not be getting the coverage for your Medicare parts A and B from Original Medicare but from Part C itself.

Medicare Advantages plans cover all of the services that are offered by Original Medicare. However, hospice care coverage is not provided but in all types of MA plans, you are given the option of being covered if you face an emergency and are in urgent need of medical care. However, it is possible for the plan to decide to not cover the costs of any services that they deem medically unnecessary under the regulations of Medicare. If you have any doubts on the coverage and services that are offered on your Medicare Advantage program, be sure to contact your insurance services provider for clarification. MA plans may offer extra coverage options such as hearing, vision care, dental care as well as health and wellness programs. The majority of the programs come with Medicare prescription drug coverage. However, you cannot obtain prescription drug coverage through an MA plan and Medicare part D (prescription drug coverage). If you do enroll in Medicare part D while enrolled in an MA plan, you will most likely lose your MA planand will have to return to Original Medicare.

Medicare will pay a fixed monthly amount to the companies that offer Medicare Advantage programs. The insurance providers that handle Medicare Advantage are under obligation to follow the rules that are set by Medicare. However, different Medicare Advantage plans may have different out-of-pocket costs as well as different rules for the ways in which you can receive your services. For instance, you may need a referral to visit a specialist or you will have to stick to doctors, medical centers and suppliers who belong to the program. These rules are subject to annual adjustments.